West Nile Virus Turns Up in Beaufort County Mosquito Traps as 4 in 5 Infections Show No Symptoms
Updated
Updated · WYFF4 Greenville · Jul 22
West Nile Virus Turns Up in Beaufort County Mosquito Traps as 4 in 5 Infections Show No Symptoms
3 articles · Updated · WYFF4 Greenville · Jul 22
Summary
Several Beaufort County mosquito traps tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the latest detection in South Carolina as summer heat boosts mosquito activity.
Four out of five infected people are expected to have no symptoms, but those who do can develop fever and headaches, and a small share face neurological complications including confusion and seizures.
About 100 people die from West Nile virus each year in the United States, according to Dr. Jeremy Byrd, who urged residents to avoid bites because prevention is the main defense.
EPA-approved repellents, long sleeves, window screens and removing standing water from places like birdbaths and gutters are the main steps officials and mosquito experts recommended; residents were also told to report infestations.